Notes from the field: outbreaks of rotavirus gastroenteritis among elderly adults in two retirement communities--Illinois, 2011.

In February 2011, three residents of a retirement community in Illinois were hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis. The admitting physicians ordered testing of stool specimens for several pathogens, including rotavirus. The hospital laboratory detected rotavirus antigen in specimens from each patient, and the hospital infection control practitioner reported that information to the Cook County Department of Public Health. Two additional residents were hospitalized for rotavirus gastroenteritis shortly thereafter. The health department sent stool specimens from the five patients to CDC for testing for rotavirus and norovirus. Rotavirus was detected in each specimen; norovirus was not detected. During a subsequent investigation, all available residents were queried regarding recent diarrheal symptoms. Preliminary data indicated that 22% of residents had confirmed or probable rotavirus disease and 10 residents were hospitalized. In May 2011, another outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis was detected at a second retirement community in the county. On preliminary analysis, the overall attack rate in the second retirement community was 11%, and 20 residents were hospitalized. No deaths were identified in either outbreak. Based on preliminary results of the investigations and general knowledge of rotavirus transmission, within each community, rotavirus likely was transmitted from person to person via contaminated hands or fomites (e.g., environmental surfaces). The outbreaks lasted ≥4 weeks.